Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-09-07
Bill Nys as a Duelist.

lhe following copy OF letter mas
been handed to the World with view
to general publicity:
"Mr. George w. Tidd, editor Gran
berry Palladium.-Dear Sir: My at
tention has been called to printed
statement made over your own sigma
ture some time ago. in which you
spoke in light and fippant manner of
my hair. The remark was carefully
worded, but calculated to cast oblo-
guy and reproach upon me in the eyes
of the public. have spoken to sew
eral friends in relation 10 it, and they
are of one opinion in the matter.
They unite in saying that the term
Mexican hairless humorist, demands
a challenge, to say nothing of the
statement that while on board train
which was robbed in Nebraska. / sue
ceeded in concealing my jewelry in
my hair until the danger had passed.
For this, sir, beg to state that my
address is 2313 Rue de Bowery, op-
posite the Place du Railway Mysterie,
and to ask that you will send me your
own address. l forward this by a
slow messenger boy, who will bring
me your answer as soon as he gets
thoroughly rested. l need not add
that he is my friend and will act as
my second, should you refuse to re-
tract the statements referred to. You
may also settle with him for this mes
sage and your own.
will settle with you.
l hope, sir, that you will excuse
anything that may seem coarse and
brutal in this chall 1ge, for desire
only to take your life without giving
you any offense, and l want to be po-
lite like other duelists. May I ask,
therefore, that at your earliest con-
venience you will name quiet place,
as free from malaria as possible, where
we may kill each other undisturbed.
May I trouble you also. sir, to Sc
lect two as dangerous weapons as pos
sible, and also to bring with you the
surgeon who generally sews you up
at such times.
The De Nyes have always been a
hot blooded race ever since they left
France, and they can none Of them
brook an insult or bear to be tramped
on.
When l first read your singing in.
suit in the paper became delirious
with passion, and although 1 am not
related to the Knickerbockers my
breath came in short pants.
The De Nyes are pleasant people
to meet, but the man who infuriates
one of them is liable to meander up
the fume in all oblique manner. Par
don anything, sir, in this communica-
ton which may sound harsh or clash
with the smooth or scholarly style of
assassination peculiar to the code. I
desire to meet you in mortal combat,
but l want to do it in polished way,
and l desire to word this note so that
it will read we'll in print, like other
challenges.
/ have consulted several friends
about the prospect of our meeting in
a duel at no distant day, and all of
them seem to be highly gratifed. 1t
affords me great pleasure to note that
I 60 into this thing with the hearty
Endorsement and god-speed of oil, with
out distinction. If you would prefer
to wait few weeks until the weather
is cooler, so that you can lie in state
longer, will try to muzzle my wrath.
but would advise you to not IN cross
my trail in the meantime.
My second will no doubt inform you
that l am an expert and deadly |
swordsman, and will try to convince
you that it will be best not to name
the sword. Do not be too proud to
heed his advice-it may save your
mine also.
l hope you will not treat this chal-
lenge lightly, sir, and try still further
to heap ridicule upon an old and mil
dewed name by suggesting soft gloves
or watermelons as weapons. Let us
meet as gentlemen, sir-fre, and fall
down, stagger to your feet, lean heav-
lily against tree, mutter a few words
in a hoarse voice, gasp two times in
rapid succession, put on our coats and
go home.
/ feel almost certain sir, that you
will treat this note in q sighting and
jaunty manner, but ! beg that you will
not do SO. For the sake of the Tidds,
who we're always plain but rather
pleasant set Of people, and for the
sake of the De Nyes, whose only fault
has been their fondness for fresh, hot
blood, furnished by other parties for
the sake of our ancestors, sir, let me
beg of you to assist in making this
duel success.
If have been brutal in the word
ing of this challenge. sir. or violated